August 23rd 2024.
During a series of interviews, Gillian Keegan, the former Education Secretary, made a shocking claim that British children were being taught about "72 genders". As a trans writer, I couldn't help but see this as a parody of a moral panic. It seemed too ridiculous to be taken seriously. The idea that children were being taught such an extreme and nonsensical concept seemed like something out of a satirical comedy. But to my surprise, this claim was not just a joke, it was actually being used as a justification for new sex education guidance.
On May 16th, just a few days before the General Election, Keegan told Sky News that there was "some evidence from some people" that children were being taught about 72 genders as if it were a fact. This was referred to as "gender ideology" and Keegan believed it should not be taught in schools. This claim was not limited to just one interview, it was repeated across multiple broadcasts and even in an opinion column under Keegan's name. It was shocking to see such a baffling claim come from a government official and even more concerning that it was being used to justify new sex education guidance.
In a BBC interview, Keegan was directly asked about evidence she had seen regarding inappropriate teachings in schools. Instead of providing any concrete evidence, she once again brought up the "72 genders" claim, insisting that there was evidence to support it. Even Rishi Sunak, the then-Prime Minister, used this claim as a talking point on Loose Women. As a trans journalist, I was disturbed by the lack of pushback and the potential harm this false narrative could cause to my community. I wanted to see this supposed evidence for myself, so I put in a Freedom of Information Act request to the Department for Education.
Initially, my request was rejected because the Department claimed they were unable to search for the term "72 genders". However, after filing a complaint, it turned out they could in fact conduct the search. The answer I received earlier this week was shocking – they found nothing. Not a single record or piece of evidence could be found to support the idea that 72 genders were being taught in any educational institution in the UK. It's alarming that a government official can make such a claim without any evidence to back it up, but as a trans person, I unfortunately wasn't surprised.
Sadly, this kind of false narrative is all too common when it comes to trans people. The press and some politicians often paint us as monsters trying to indoctrinate children with "gender ideology". In reality, all we want is for children to understand and safely navigate the diverse world we live in. As a trans person myself, I remember being a confused kid with no proper sex education. I didn't even know what "nonbinary" meant. It wasn't until I got to university that I learned about the queer community. I wish I had received proper sex education in school – it might have helped me figure out my identity sooner.
The proposed sex education guidance, which the false "72 genders" claim was used to justify, will likely make life even harder for trans kids. The danger became apparent when Keegan and others blurred the lines between "gender identity" and "gender ideology", making it feel like my very existence was up for debate. The National Education Union called out the guidance as "culture war noise" and sadly, the fearmongering about "gender ideology" in schools feels all too similar to past moral panics about the "gay agenda". Despite acknowledging that the previous government drifted into partisan guidance, the new Labour minister for Education has not done enough to reject it.
In looking into the origins of this claim, I discovered the real harm that misinformation can cause. One source seems to be an offhand comment made by a guest speaker at a school on the Isle of Man – not even in Britain and not during a sex education lesson. False news reports led to death threats against the teachers at the school, which is one of the reasons why I wanted to find out more. False claims and "culture war" rhetoric have real consequences. I will never forget the tragic fate of Lucy Meadows, a trans teacher who took her own life after being demonized by the press.
It's time for us to do a better job of calling out false narratives about trans people and demanding evidence when outrageous claims are presented as facts. Until we do, people like me will continue to face discrimination and abuse. Do you have a story to share? Please get in touch by emailing Ross.email. Let's continue to have important discussions and share our perspectives.
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